Operating unit of elevator at the time of power interruption

ABSTRACT

An emergency power operation apparatus of an elevator that operate machines in a firefighter operation according to the situation in a case where a power failure occurs during firefighter operations during a fire and a switchover to an emergency power source occurs. A group-management controller causes machines not in firefighter operation to preferentially return to an evacuation floor or a rescue floor when a power failure occurs during firefighter operations during a fire and then makes machines in firefighter operation operational. In a case where there are multiple machines in firefighter operation after all machines not in firefighter operation have finished returning to an evacuation floor or a rescue floor, if there is a machine at a standstill outside a door zone among the machines in firefighter operation, the group-management controller causes that machine at a standstill outside the door zone to preferentially become operational.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to an emergency power operation apparatusof an elevator which is used for an elevator which is operated by anemergency power source during a power failure and supports emergencyrecall operations during emergencies such as a fire and fire fightingactivities by firefighter operations.

BACKGROUND ART

There have been proposed emergency power operation methods of anelevator which are used for an emergency elevator which can performemergency recall operations and firefighter operations during a fire andwhich has no dedicated emergency power source as a matter of convenienceof building facilities and hence has no other choice than to performemergency recall operations and firefighter operations during a powerfailure by use of a common emergency power source shared by othermachines (refer to the Patent Document 1, for example).

Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent No. 3331855

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

However, the prior art does not mention a case where a power failureoccurs when there are other machines which have already been performingfirefighter operations, and has problems as described below.

The first problem lies in the point that no consideration is given to anoperation method in a case where a car which does not performfirefighter operations during an emergency is at a standstill outside adoor zone. The second problem lies in the point that no consideration isgiven to an operation method in a case Where multiple elevators havebeen performing firefighter operations.

The present invention has been made to solve problems as described aboveand has as its object the provision of a emergency power operationapparatus of an elevator which can appropriately operate an elevator infirefighter operation according to the situation in a case where a powerfailure occurs during the firefighter operations during a fire and aswitchover to an emergency power source occurs.

The present invention provides an emergency power operation apparatus ofan elevator in which multiple cars are operated one by one during apower failure by use of an emergency power source, characterized in thatthe emergency power operation apparatus of an elevator comprisesgroup-management controlling means which causes machines not infirefighter operation to preferentially return to an evacuation floor ora rescue floor when a power failure occurs during firefighter operationsduring a fire and then makes machines in firefighter operationoperational.

Also, in that in a case where there are multiple machines in firefighteroperation after all machines not in firefighter operation have finishedreturning to an evacuation floor or a rescue floor, if there is amachine at a standstill outside a door zone among the machines infirefighter operation, the group-management controlling means causesthis machine at a standstill outside the door zone to preferentiallybecome operational.

Further, in that the group-management controlling means comprisesexternal information inputting means which inputs external informationnecessary for travel control of elevators in a group, returning machinedeciding means which outputs a return order in consideration of thenumber of elevators capable of being simultaneously operated among themultiple elevators, a predetermined order of priority and the number ofmachines in firefighter operation in the group, and continuation machinedeciding means which outputs a continuation order in consideration ofthe number of elevators capable of being simultaneously operated, apredetermined order of priority, and the number of machines infirefighter operation in the group.

Furthermore, in that within a car of each machine there is providedmeans which displays machines in firefighter operation in the group,machines operational by firefighter operation, and positions of cars ofother machines.

In the present invention, general passengers can be swiftly rescued evenin a case where a power failure occurs when the capacity of an emergencypower source is only for one elevator and firefighter operations duringan emergency are being performed, and even in a case where multipleelevators are performing firefighter operations, a continuation order ispreferentially outputted to an elevator in firefighter operation whichhas come into a standstill outside a door zone, with the result thatrescue is possible even when a power failure occurs during the firefighting activities by firefighters. Although one machine becomesunoperational while multiple machines are in firefighter operation, thisunoperational machine can be rescued because the positions of the othermachines can be recognized from within a car.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a system configuration diagram which shows a emergency poweroperation apparatus of an elevator in Embodiment 1 of the presentinvention;

FIG. 2 is in-car display means of an emergency power operation apparatusof an elevator in Embodiment 1 of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a flowchart which shows the operation of group-managementcontrolling means in Embodiment 1 of the present invention; and

FIG. 4 is a flowchart which shows the operation of individual-machinecontrolling means in Embodiment 1 of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS

1 Identification contact of emergency power source

2 Group-management controlling means

3 External information inputting means

4 Returning machine deciding means

5 Continuation machine deciding means

6 a, 6 b, 6 c Individual-machine controlling means

7 a, 7 b, 7 c Elevator car

8 Car display controlling means

9 In-car operating panel

10 Emergency (firefighter) operation lamp

11 Emergency car position indicator-cum-firefighter operation lamp forNo. 2 machine

12 Emergency car position indicator for No. 3 machine

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

The present invention will be described in detail with reference to theaccompanying drawings.

Embodiment 1

FIGS. 1 to 4 show an emergency power operation apparatus of an elevatorin Embodiment 1 of the present invention. This is an example in whichthree elevator cars are group-managed as one group. Among the threeelevators, the No. 1 machine is for emergency use, the No. 2 machine isfor emergency use, and the No. 3 machine is for general purpose. Thecapacity of an emergency power source is for one elevator.

FIG. 1 is a system configuration diagram which shows a emergency poweroperation apparatus of an elevator in Embodiment 1 of the presentinvention.

In the figures, an identification contact of emergency power source 1 isa normally opened contact which is closed when a switchover to anemergency power source occurs. Group-management controlling means 2performs the travel control of the elevators in the group. In thepresent invention, operational elevators during a power failure arecontrolled by use of external information inputting means 3, returningmachine deciding means 4 and continuation machine deciding means 5. Theabove-described external information inputting means 3 inputs externalinformation necessary for the travel control of the elevators in thegroup. In the present invention, the identification contact of emergencypower source 1 is inputted from the building side. The above-describedreturning machine deciding means 4 outputs a return order inconsideration of the number of elevators capable of being simultaneouslyoperated, a predetermined order of priority and the number of machinesin firefighter operation in the group when multiple elevators areinstalled. The above-described continuation machine deciding means 5outputs a continuation order in consideration of the number of elevatorscapable of being simultaneously operated, a predetermined order ofpriority and the number of machines in firefighter operation in thegroup. Individual-machine controlling means 6 a, 6 b, 6 c of elevatorsperforms the travel control of each elevator (each machine). In thepresent invention, when a return order during a power failure isreceived from the group-management controlling means 2, the elevatortravels to a predetermined return floor or evacuation floor. When acontinuation order during a power failure is received from thegroup-management controlling means 2, the operation is continued evenduring a power failure. The reference numeral 6 a denotes No. 1 elevatorcontrolling means, the reference numeral 6 b denotes No. 2 elevatorcontrolling means, and the reference numeral 6 c denotes No. 3 elevatorcontrolling means. An elevator car 7 a is a car for the No. 1 machine,an elevator car 7 b is a car for the No. 2 machine, and an elevator car7 c is a car for the No. 3 machine.

FIG. 2 is in-car display means of an emergency power operation apparatusof an elevator in Embodiment 1 of the present invention. This diagramshows a schematic representation of the No. 1 machine 7 a.

Car display controlling means 8 outputs control signals related to cardisplay, such as those of a car position indicator, an in-car directionlamp, a destination button lamp and a door opening and closing buttonlamp, from the individual-machine controlling means 6 a, 6 b, 6 c. Inthe present invention, an emergency operation lamp 10 which indicateswhether the relevant machine is in emergency operation (emergency recalloperation or firefighter operation), a car positionindicator-cum-firefighter operation lamp 11 for the No. 2 machine, whichis a display of another machine during emergency operation, and a carposition indicator 12 for the No. 3 machine are also controlled. On anin-car operating panel 9, there are installed a car position indicator13 of the relevant machine, an in-car direction lamp 14, destinationlamps 15 and destination button lamps, door opening and closing buttons16 and door opening and closing button lamps, furthermore, an emergencyoperation lamp 10, the car position indicator-cum-firefighter operationlamp 11 for the No. 2 machine, the car position indicator 12 for the No.3 machine, a firefighter operation switch 17, and an emergency callbutton 18. The emergency operation lamp 10 lights up when the relevantmachine is in emergency operation (emergency recall operation,firefighter operation). In the present invention, the emergencyoperation lamp 10 blinks when there is no continuation order from thegroup-management controlling means 2 while firefighting operations arebeing performed by use of an emergency power source. The car positionindicator-cum-firefighter operation lamp 11 for the No. 2 machinebecomes able to perform indication during firefighting operations anddisplays the car position of the No. 2 machine which is inputted fromthe group-management controlling means 2. A quadrangular peripheral partof this car position indicator serves also as the firefighter operationlamp of the No. 2 machine and hence the firefighter operation lamp 11,which is the quadrangular peripheral part of this car positionindicator, lights up and the emergency operation lamp 10 of the No. 1machine blinks when a continuation order is issued from thegroup-management controlling means 2 to the No. 2 machine and this No. 2machine is operational in the firefighter operation mode. Conversely,when a continuation order is issued from the group-managementcontrolling means 2 to the No. 1 machine and this No. 1 machine isoperational in the firefighter operation mode, the emergency operationlamp 10 of the No. 1 machine lights up and the firefighter operationlamp 11 of the No. 2 machine blinks. Also, if the No. 2 machine is notin firefighter operation, this firefighter operation lamp 11 goes off.In this manner, the execution condition of firefighter operations ofother machines in the group can be displayed. As a result of this, it ispossible to confirm the information that a machine is unoperationalbecause no continuation order is issued from the group-managementcontrolling means 2 and, therefore, it is possible to move to the floorof the machine and to rescue firefighters who are riding in theunoperational machine. The car position indicator 12 of the No. 3machine becomes able to perform indication during firefightingoperations and displays the car position of the No. 3 machine which isinputted from the group-management controlling means 2. When a powerfailure occurs while the No. 1 and No. 2 machines are in firefighteroperation, the No. 3 machine not in firefighter operation returns first.However, firefighters who are waiting in the cars of the No. 1 and No. 2machines can ascertain from the car position indicator 12 whether theNo. 3 machine has arrived at a return floor or an evacuation floor and,therefore, the waiting firefighters can judge whether the relevantmachine is operational. Incidentally, because the No. 3 machine is forgeneral purpose, a firefighter operation lamp is not provided in thequadrangular peripheral part of a car position indicator.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart which shows the operation of group-managementcontrolling means in Embodiment 1 of the present invention. In thisfigure, it is assumed that as shown in FIG. 1, a power failure occurswhile the No. 1 and No. 2 machines are in firefighter operation and thatthe No. 1 machine comes to a standstill within a door zone and the No. 2machine outside the door zone. FIG. 2 shows the No. 1 machine after apower failure occurred, and FIG. 3 shows the operation of thegroup-management controlling means 2.

In FIG. 3, a power failure occurs at Step Si and an ordinary powersource becomes down. At Step S2, an emergency power source isestablished and the identification contact of emergency power source 1is closed. At this time, by use of the external information inputtingmeans 3, the group-management controlling means 2 inputs the informationthat the identification contact of emergency power source 1 has beenclosed. Next, at Step S3, operation information is sent from theindividual-machine controlling means 6 a, 6 b, 6 c of each of themachines and the operating condition of each of the machines isrecognized. Unless both the No. 1 machine and the No. 2 machine are infirefighter operation, the group management proceeds to Step S12. Ifthere are machines in firefighter operation at Step S3, the groupmanagement proceeds to Step S4. Because the No. 3 machine is a machineother than those in firefighter operation, the group management proceedsto Step S5. If the No. 3 machine is also an emergency elevator andperforming firefighter operation, then the group management proceeds toStep S7. Because at Step S5 there is a possibility that there arepassengers in machines not in firefighter operation, a return order ispreferentially outputted to the No. 3 machine not in firefighteroperation and the group management proceeds to Step S6. When at Step S6the No. 3 machine has finished returning, the group management proceedsto Step S7. When the return has not been finished, the group managementreturns to Step S5 and the output of a return order to the No. 3 machineis continued. Next, at Step S7 a judgment is made as to whether thereare multiple machines in firefighter operation. Because in this case theNo. 1 and No. 2 machines are in firefighter operation, the groupmanagement proceeds to Step S8. In a case where only one machine is infirefighter operation, the group management proceeds to Step S13. AtStep S8 a judgment is made as to whether there are machines infirefighter operation outside the door zone. Information whether thereare machines in firefighter operation outside the door zone is outputtedfrom the individual-machine controlling means 6 a, 6 b, 6 c of theelevators to the group-management controlling means 2. Because in thiscase the No. 2 machine is at a standstill outside the door zone, thegroup management proceeds to Step S9. If both the No. 1 machine and theNo. 2 machine are at a standstill inside the door zone, the groupmanagement proceeds to Step S11. Next, at Step S9 a continuation orderis outputted to the No. 2 machine, which is a machine at a standstilloutside the door zone, and the group management proceeds to Step S10. AtStep S10 a judgment is made as to whether machines at a standstilloutside the door zone have returned to within the door zone. When inthis case the No. 2 machine has returned to within the door zone, thegroup management proceeds to Step S11. When the No. 2 machine has notyet returned, the group management returns to Step S9 and the output ofa continuation order to the No. 2 machine is continued. At Step 11, in acase where machines at a standstill outside the door zone have returnedto within the door zone or in a case where a power failure occurs whenmachines in firefighter operation are within the door zone, acontinuation order is outputted to a predetermined machine.

In a case where at Step S12, there is no machine in firefighteroperation in the group when a power failure occurs, a return order isoutputted to the machines one by one and ordinary return operations areperformed.

In a case where at Step S13, there is only one machine in firefighteroperation, a continuation order is outputted to the machine infirefighter operation.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart which shows the operation of individual-machinecontrolling means in Embodiment 1 of the present invention. In thisfigure, it is assumed that as shown in the flowchart of FIG. 3, and asshown in FIG. 1, a power failure occurs while the No. 1 and No. 2machines are in firefighter operation and that the No. 1 machine comesto a standstill within a door zone and the No. 2 machine outside thedoor zone. FIG. 2 shows the No. 1 machine after a power failureoccurred, and FIG. 4 shows the operation of the individual-machinecontrolling means 6 a of the No. 1 machine.

In FIG. 4, a power failure occurs at Step S14 and an ordinary powersource becomes down. At Step S15, an emergency power source isestablished and the individual-machine control comes to a wait conditionfor a return order or a continuation order from the group-managementcontrolling means 2. At step S16 a judgment is made as to whether themachine is in firefighter operation. Because in this case, the No. 1machine is in firefighter operation, the individual-machine controlproceeds to Step S17. If the No. 1 machine is not in firefighteroperation, the individual-machine control proceeds to Step S24. Next, atStep S17 a judgment is made as to whether there is a continuation orderfrom the group-management controlling means 2. In this case, the No. 2machine is at a standstill outside the door zone and the No. 1 machineis at a standstill within the door zone and hence a continuation orderis outputted to the No. 2 machine. Therefore, the No. 1 machine becomesunoperational in the firefighter operation mode. Therefore, theindividual-machine control proceeds to Step S22 and the emergencyoperation lamp 10 of the No. 1 machine is blinked. If a continuationorder is outputted to the No. 1 machine, the individual-machine controlproceeds to Step S18 and the emergency operation lamp 10 of the No. 1machine is lighted. Next, at Step S19 a judgment is made as to whetherthere are machines in firefighter operation in the group. On the basisof this judgment, the lighting or extinction of the firefighter lamp ofthe car position indicator-cum-firefighter operation lamp 11 for the No.2 machine is decided. Because in this case the No. 2 machine is infirefighter operation, the individual-machine control proceeds to StepS20. If the No. 2 machine is not in firefighter operation, theindividual-machine control proceeds to Step S26. At Step S20 a judgmentis made as to whether there are continuation machines in firefighteroperation in the group. On the basis of this judgment, the lighting orextinction of the firefighter lamp of the car positionindicator-cum-firefighter operation lamp 11 for the No. 2 machine isdecided. Because in this case the No. 2 machine is at a standstilloutside the door zone and a continuation order is outputted from thegroup-management controlling means 2, the individual-machine controlproceeds to Step S21. At Step 21, the firefighter lamp of the carposition indicator-cum-firefighter operation lamp 11 for the No. 2machine is lighted and the emergency operation lamp 10 of the No. 1machine is blinked. If at Step S20 described above, there is nocontinuation machine in firefighter operation in the group, theindividual-machine control proceeds to Step S23 and the firefighter lampof the car position indicator-cum-firefighter operation lamp 11 for theNo. 2 machine is blinked.

If at Step S16 described above, the machine is not in firefighteroperation, the individual-machine control proceeds to Step S24 and theemergency operation lamp 10 of the No. 1 machine is extinguished. Theindividual-machine control proceeds further to Step S25 and thefirefighter lamp of the car position indicator-cum-firefighter operationlamp 11 for the No. 2 machine is extinguished and the car positionindicator 12 for the No. 3 machine is also extinguished.

If at Step S19 described above there is no machine in firefighteroperation in the group, the individual-machine control proceeds to StepS26 and the firefighter lamp of the car positionindicator-cum-firefighter operation lamp 11 for the No. 2 machine isextinguished.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

As described above, an emergency power operation apparatus of anelevator related to the present invention can be applied to an elevatorwhich is operated by an emergency power source during a power failureand supports emergency recall operations during emergencies such as afire and fire fighting activities by firefighter operations.

1. An emergency power operation apparatus of an elevator in whichmultiple cars are operated one by one during a power failure by use ofan emergency power source, characterized in that the emergency poweroperation apparatus of an elevator comprises group-managementcontrolling means which causes machines not in firefighter operation topreferentially return to an evacuation floor or a rescue floor when apower failure occurs during firefighter operations during a fire andthen makes machines in firefighter operation operational.
 2. Theemergency power operation apparatus of an elevator according to claim 1,characterized in that in a case where there are multiple machines infirefighter operation after all machines not in firefighter operationhave finished returning to an evacuation floor or a rescue floor, ifthere is a machine at a standstill outside a door zone among themachines in firefighter operation, the group-management controllingmeans causes this machine at a standstill outside the door zone topreferentially become operational.
 3. The emergency power operationapparatus of an elevator according to claim 1, characterized in that thegroup-management controlling means comprises external informationinputting means which inputs external information necessary for travelcontrol of elevators in a group, returning machine deciding means whichoutputs a return order in consideration of the number of elevatorscapable of being simultaneously operated among the multiple elevators, apredetermined order of priority and the number of machines infirefighter operation in the group, and continuation machine decidingmeans which outputs a continuation order in consideration of the numberof elevators capable of being simultaneously operated, a predeterminedorder of priority, and the number of machines in firefighter operationin the group.
 4. The emergency power operation apparatus of an elevatoraccording to claim 3, characterized in that the external informationinputting means is such that inputting is performed from the buildingside by use of an identification contact of emergency power source whichis closed when a switchover to an emergency power source occurs during apower failure.
 5. The emergency power operation apparatus of an elevatoraccording to claim 1, characterized in that within a car of each machinethere is provided means which displays machines in firefighter operationin the group, machines operational by firefighter operation, andpositions of cars of other machines.
 6. The emergency power operationapparatus of an elevator according to claim 2, characterized in thatwithin a car of each machine there is provided means which displaysmachines in firefighter operation in the group, machines operational byfirefighter operation, and positions of cars of other machines.
 7. Theemergency power operation apparatus of an elevator according to claim 3,characterized in that within a car of each machine there is providedmeans which displays machines in firefighter operation in the group,machines operational by firefighter operation, and positions of cars ofother machines.